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Topic Review (Newest First)

06-12-2013 09:33 PM

Just Tinkering (JT)

Re: Minn kota?

On my Venture 17 I have two deep cycle marine batteries and a 55# thrust Minn Kota. The boat with all the stuff in it weighs around 1,200 pounds. The electric motor will push the boat around 3.5 to 4 mph for almost 4 hours on a full charge. A nice thing about electrics is the strong torque and immediate "on" nature of them. Just throw a switch or turn a knob and you're on. I really like that there is no noise, or smoke, or rattle, or exhaust. Just the gurgle of the water behind the boat.

I made a video of the set up on my YouTube channel but since I'm a newbie here I can't post links.

The YouTube channel is: drez20001 The trolling motor set up is one of the newer videos.

JT/Dan

06-12-2013 05:28 AM

CatMan22

Re: Minn kota?

My Catalina had an old Ted Williams 7.5 that seemed to have a mind of its own, would run fine one day, hit and miss the next, not at allnthe time after that. Rather than sailing every third day, who says sailors aren't problem solvers, I traded my neighbor an old 4.5 Johnson for a 75 lb thrust Minn Kota, fashioned a bracket to fit the motor mount, bought a new battery, solar charger and never had a problem with power. I sold the Catalina with the Ted Williams but kept the Minn Kota as a back up on the new boat.

Two things about those old eskas-
1. because they are air-cooled, they are loud.
2. Some of the smaller HP models had no reverse, and no clutch. Make sure you are pointed in the direction in which you wish to travel when you light it up, because that is the direction you are travelling when lit.

BTDT.

06-11-2013 07:29 PM

Chartreuse

Re: Minn kota?

I have a minn kota 55lb thrust for a 9 n a half foot punt. Works pretty good, even in some wind. I use a small tractor battery, and it will get me to and fro the boat about 3 to 4 times on a single charge. I dislike toting the battery around however, and still prefer the tried and true oars... But my oarlock is broken at moment.

That LEHR motor looks nifty, if I had the bread id spring for one of those.

That is not the particular one. He is sending photos tonight so I can decide. Runs ok, needs a tune up. I am hoping he is an old farmer/fisherman that really maintains his gear. I will have a better idea later today.

06-11-2013 06:43 PM

DonScribner

Re: Minn kota?

If things get bad, can you wave to a passing boat and bum a spare battery? I can run for 12 hours straight on my 8HP kicker with the gas I carry. That's good insurance. I do, however, carry a trolling motor for my dinghy. I think it's the bomb for that.

06-11-2013 06:32 PM

bljones

Re: Minn kota?

one of the old gamefisher/eska/williams air cooled powerhead/watercooled leg motors?

06-11-2013 05:34 PM

QuickMick

Re: Minn kota?

Lol. Just bought an old sears 5hp for 75 bucks.

06-11-2013 04:52 PM

FinallySailing

Re: Minn kota?

When I was sailing on Rutland Water, which is Europe's largest man made freshwater reservoir, combustion engines were not allowed. I installed a Yamaha M26 (55 lb thrust) which is made by Minn Kota. Loved it. Pushed my 26 footer with ease around with plenty of juice left in my leisure battery. I also had two batteries, one for the outboard and one that was being charged on land for the next day. As long as you don't have to deal with tides and streams electric outboards are fine. Actually, I had to relearn when I switched later to a petrol outboard. They are just not as responsive as an electric, I find. If you are looking for a Minn, see if you can get them branded as Yamaha. When I bought mine, it was quite a lot cheaper then the same sold as Minn Kota (but had only a two year and not three year warranty).

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